Continuing on my favorite performances from this year. Here are my favorite team performances.
The Harlem Hot Shots at the Old Skool Battle
This is part of a whole series of clips posted by YouTube user susannedr. I have no idea what the context is other than that it seems to be part of some program where they dance against a hip hop crew, but there aren’t any videos of the other team. Still, these are some inspired performances by the worlds best Lindy Hop team. This clip in particular combines everything that the new generation of Hot Shots can do individually and as a team.
The Silver Shadows at The Frankie Manning 95th Birthday Festival
There were a ton of first rate performances from this event, and its hard just to pick a few, but the Shadows stand out with this moving tribute to the man that brought us all together that weekend. It was originally going to be done to a medley of four or five songs typically associated with Frankie, but they eventually winnowed it down to “Shiny Stockings” and “Jumpin’ at the Woodside.” Astute observers will note that most of the movements in the piece are taken directly from things that Frankie taught or choreographed for various performances.
Hellzapoppin’ recreation at The Frankie Manning 95th Birthday Festival
This could have easily been the low point of the whole weekend, especially considering the near disastrous show that preceded it. However, they pulled off what the Lindy Hop community had only dreamed of doing since the dawn of the revival.
One2Swing's California Rolls at the International Lindy Hop Championships
10 years after the first Lindy routine was performed to this song, the California Rolls proved that you can still do something different with it. Very intricate choreography where I find something different every time I see it. Check out the dude at 3:15 who slides in just in time to serve as the pianist’s “stool.” I have to keep watching the whole thing because something keeps getting in my eye towards the end.
Groove Juice Special at The Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown 2009
Great energy from a very young team with the added difficulty of performing to live music with musicians that they had just met within a day of their performance.